Blind Holes, good , bad or a novelty way past its prime?

[Ed Brzezowski]

With all the Ireland threads going about I was wondering about the group think of the two blind holes at Lahinch, four and five I believe.

Played it last week and was surprised there was a " traffic cop" atop the dune on four. I was told he is stationed there to hopefully lessen the chance of an accidental beaning with 18 crossing at a 90 degree angle.

Personally I loved the two holes and though four was a great hole. Accurate drive and then get waived on for you approach to the green. The ranger had a flag so you got some instant feedback as to the quality of the shot.

The following par three was a nice hole also but out group suffered from some inconsistent bounces off the dune fronting the green, but I guess that's part of the thrill ride.

[MCirba]

Love blind holes/shots and agree completely on all counts, even never having played there.

Golf at its best has a sense of adventure and chance.

[Charlie_Bell]

I'd be happy if every course had a blind hole. Even if Santa doesn't bring you what you wanted, coming down the stairs filled with anticipation is the best part of Christmas morning. 

[Sven Nilsen]

Always thought these conversations should draw a distinction between blind drives and approaches.

Sven

[Ronald Montesano]

The blind tee shot on, is it #10, at Troon is killing them a bit.

[Sean_A]

Gotta have em', preferably tee shots and approaches.  Also gotta provide space for blindness or the holes will soon be hated like vermin.


Ciao

[cary lichtenstein]

Love em

[James Brown]

Blind shots are one of the funniest aspects of the game, but only in moderation.  4 and 5 at Lahinch are two of the best examples.  14 and 15 at Cruden Bay are another pair. 

[Rob Marshall]

Loved 4 and 5 at Lahinch. No one was directing traffic when I played, just the stone to guide you to the pin...

[Tom_Doak]

It looks like we will have at least one blind par-3 on the new par-3 course at Ballyneal.

[Eric Smith]

There is so much to admire about the golf at Rye but the blind approach at the thirteenth over the dune into a crossing wind is the shot I find myself daydreaming of most.

[Buck Wolter]

I broke 80 at Kingsley for the first time last week in no small part due to a birdie at 4 which has a blind tee and usually a blind second. Thinking you hit it perfect and coming over the hill and finding it 2 ft from the hole is a feeling you can't get on a straightforward, visible hole.

[Ed Brzezowski]

Loved 4 and 5 at Lahinch. No one was directing traffic when I played, just the stone to guide you to the pin...

The ranger looked like a traffic director, which was cool. I got a big wave and thumbs up for hitting the par five in two. Just loved the two holes in question. He even has a hut burrowed into the dune.

[Thomas Dai]

Blind holes/shots are usually fine by me unless they have a footpath, roadway or some similar issue with them. Golf balls can hurt and these days they travel further than ever and there seem to be ever more ambulance chasers.
Atb

[Mike_Trenham]

It would seem as the ball flys further there will only be more blind shots, so they are not past their prime.

[Joe Zucker]

I like them, they add variety and make the round more fun.  However, this post got me thinking about the idea that blind shots play better on links courses (or any course that is firm) than on typical soggy parkland courses.  It's fun to hit a blind shot then get up to the top the hill and wonder how the hell your ball got where it is, whether this 3 feet from the hole or 50 yards right of where you thought.


Blind shots on courses where the ball rolls less are still interesting, but the element of surprise or suspense is lessened because the result is more predictable from where the shot was hit.  Many people might think this is "unfair", but I think the added fun is worth the price of less predictability.  I've only played a handful of links courses, but I imagine the blind shots being more fun when the roll out is greater.

[Ed Brzezowski]

Fully agree Joe, the shot I hit that was so so turned out great and great shot ( or so we all thought) was short. It's like pinball on a grand scale/

[Bill_McBride]

It looks like we will have at least one blind par-3 on the new par-3 course at Ballyneal.

Will there be a moveable stone on the ridge for guidance?  😀


I personally think there is nothing more thrilling in golf than whacking a tee ball over a marker post and going over the ridge to see where you finished.  The 7th at Elie, all of 256 yards bold over the hill, is as much fun as golf gets. 

[Don Jordan]

Blind shots where you have some sense of where to go is good though I have one small issue. I have played a little bit of tourist golf in the last couple of years as a single and a blind hole with no caddie can be almost impossible. I usually play a couple of balls of the tee at different lines I think will work to overcome it.

[Charlie_Bell]

My father's only hole-in-one was on a blind par 3, but he was in the first group out on a dewy summer morning so he could see the long track leading right to the cup.

[Sean_A]

The anti-blind movement goes way back to Dr Mac etc...these guys didn't believe blind holes fit the strategic design precepts.  Perhaps not, but man, what a silly way to approach design...based on one approach only.  It was the same way with crossing hazards...another foolish reaction by the first wave of great archies to what came before. Neither concept has properly recovered from the onslaught of strategicism. 


Ciao